Insulating machine



J. M. BlDDlSON 2,835,372

INSULATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 20, 1958 Filed Aug. 20, 1953 IN VEN TOR. JOHN M 5/00/50 May 20, 1958 J. M. BlDDlSON INSULATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1956 ///5 mam 5y- May 20, 1958 J. M. BlDDlSON INSULATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 20, 1953 mmw m:

IN VEN TOR. JOHN M 5/20/50 #6 lrraeA E 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 20, 1953 INVENTOR. ./0///V M. 5/00/50 United States Patent":

2,835,372 INSULATING MACHINE JohnMrBiddison, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Harry W. Moore, Dayton, Ohio Application August 20, 1953, Serial No. 375,523

claims. (Cl; 19826) This invention relates to anaautomatic machine for per forming work upon articles of manufacture. It relates particularly to a machine forinsulating the slots of arma' ture cores. However, the invention is not so limited; in that it may be' employed for insulating stators or other elements of "an electrical machine and may alsobe used for other purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide an: automatically operating machine for insulatingcoil receiving slots.

Another object of this invention; is to' provide a machine which receives armatures to be insulated from a source of supply, insulates the slots of each individual Other objects and advantages reside in. the construc tion of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will. become more apparent from the following description.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view disclosing the principal carrier elements of the preferred embodiment'of' aninsu-lating machine of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side el'evational view showing the operating mechanism of the preferred" embodiment" of the automatic insulating machine of this invention: 7 1

Figure 3* is a fragmentary side elevational'view of they engaging device which directs an insulated armature to the rails upon which the armature moves from themachine:

Figure 4* is a fragmentary sectional view disclosing el'e'- ments of the macliine" performing a step in the fbrmatiorr of the insulating material into" the proper shape to' enter arr armatureslot.

Figured is a fragmentary side sectional view disclos ing elements of the machine perfbrmin'g' the next step in the formation of the insulatihg 'material' into the proper shape to enter an armature slot.

Figure 6 is: a fragmentary sectional" view disclosing means of inserting a properly formed strip of insulation into an -armature slot.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side sectional view discloy ing the means provided by this invention for rotatively indexing an armature retained in the insulating machine, sothat consecutive armature slots are insulated.

Figure 8 is afragmentary side-view, a portion or which. is in section, of a preferred modification of an automatic 7 Figure 10' is a fragmentary perspective view showing the clamping means by which an armature is retained during; the insulating process according to the preferred modification of this invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference numeral 18 ihd'icates the housing of the preferred embodiment of the insulating machine. The machine is adapted to insulate any conventional armature core 20 having a shaft 22*and slots'24.

A pluralityof armature cores 20 approach the housing 18' rolling upon a pair of inclined rails 28, which are partially supported by the housing 18. An arm 30 having two substantially right angle portions irregular in shape is provided with an arcuate recess in the upper end thereof and is-pivotally attached by means of a pin 31 to'the housing 18. Thearcuate recess is adapted to receive an armature core 20', as clearly disclosed in Figures 1 2 and 3.

Movement of the arm 30' is actuated by a hydraulic motor 32;, which is attached to the housing 18 adjacent the arm 30. A conduit 34 serves to connect the hydraulic motor 32 to a source of hydraulic fluid; Pivotally attached at the mid portion of the arm 30 and to the end of a piston rod 36 of the hydraulic motor 32 is a linl rod 40, which is encircled by anelongate-helical spring 42. Also,- pivotally' attached at the end of the piston rod E361 and held: by apiniffl is a; brace 4'4, which is pivotally supported uponthe housing by means of an extension 46; As the piston rod 36 is extended by the hydraulic motor 32, the link rod 40; with the spring 42', forces" the arm 30 to pivot about the pin 31. The springi'42 cu'sh-' 7 ions themovement of the: link rod 40 against the arm 30.

Am armature core 20 is thereby carried upwardly in the ar'cuate recessof the arm 30 into an arcuate chuck or clamping recess 50' and the armature core 20 is held in the clam-ping recess 59 by the arm 30, as shown in Fig ure 2. As the armature core 20 is moved-tothe chuck 50 itengages a pair of pivotally mounted fingers 51 which areretainedupon a pin. 52and resiliently held in: the pe sition: asv shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 by a spring 532 The fingers 51 are rotatably pushed upwardly as they are engaged-t by the moving. armature core 20: and when the armature core 20 has reached the chuck 50 the fingers 5h are resiliently returned to the normal position by the spring. 53" The purpose of the fingers 51. will be dis cussed. below A projection. 54,, attached abovethechuck or'clampi-ng} recess 50 and extending. over the clamping'recess 50 re tains thev armature core 204 from longitudinal. movement, while it is. held in the. chuck or clamping recess 50 by the arm 30L each armature core 20- is thus retainedin the chuck. or clamping recess 59 a; strip of insulating material is automatically inserted into eacht slot 24.

Within thehousin-g lfiimmediately behind the chuck. 50 are means shown in. Figures 4,, 5' and. 6 for inserting a: strip of-insulationv into each slot 24 of the armature core 20. A. continuous strip of, insulation 55 passes into a slot 56 and movesa measured distance'equal: to the length of a.slot 24i-of the armature core 20. The strip 55 isthen' out, establishing, the proper length thereof. A- plunger 58 forces; the cut strip 55 downwardly-upon a bottomdie 60. Side dies 62l shown in Figure 4 bend the edge portions of the cut strip 55 upwardly and cause the cut strip 55 to assume substantially a square U shape as it rests against. the bottom die 60. Then a ram 64; movable longitudie nally in a slot 66, forces the U-shape cut strip 55 through a funnel and into a slot 24 otthe armature core 20,

which. is. retained in the chuck 50 by the arm 30 adjacent.

the smaller end of the funnel 70. As the cut strip of insulation 55is forced through the funnel, the upper ends oi the vertical: edges; are bent inwardly.- As hestishowny in Figure 7, the edges of the strip material 55 near the periphery of the armature core 20 are bent inwardly. The strip of insulation is composed of a material which tends to spring back into its original shape after being bent and the strip of insulation thus attempts to spring outwardly and thereby fits itself firmly against the entire inner walls of the slot 24 as the strip is pushed through the funnel 70 and into the slot. v

After a slot 24 of the armature core 20 receives a strip of insulation, the armature core 20 is rotated by an indexing means, so that another slot 24 of the core 20 is in alignment with the funnel 70. Within a head 72 of the housing 18 is a reciprocally operable inner carriage 74. Pivotally mounted upon the inner carriage 74 is a pawl 76. Upon each return stroke of the ram 64, the inner carriage 74 is forced to move within the head 72 by a roller 80 as the roller 80 engages a movable cam 82. The inner carriage 74 is joined to the cam 82 by a bolt 86 which operates within a slot 88 of the head 72. The inner carriage 74 moves an exact and proper distance upon each stroke so that the armature core 20 is indexed to the proper extent upon each operation. The clamping action of the arm 30, as it retains an armature core 20 in the chuck 50, is sufficiently loose to permit sliding rotational action of the armature core 20 within the chuck 50 as the armature core 20 is rotatively indexed by the pawl 76.

After all of the slots 24 of the armature core 20 are provided with insulation, automatic switch means cause the-hydraulic motor 32 to retract the piston rod 36 inwardly and thereby rotate the arm 30 downwardly. As the armature core 20 is moved downwardly by the arm 30, it again engages the pair of fingers 51. A catch (not shown) prevents the fingers 51 from rotating further counterclockwise than the position shown in Figures l, 2 and 3. Therefore, as the insulated armature core 20 is moved downwardly by the arm 30, the shaft 22 of the core 20 engages the fingers 51 which thereby prevent the insulated armature core 20 from moving lower as the arm 30 moves lower, as shown in Figure 3.

The arm 30 then returns to its position at the end of the rails 28 without the armature core which has been insulated. Each insulated armature core rolls downwardly upon inclined rails 94, which are partially supported by the housing 18. As the arm 30 is pivotally rotated by the hydraulic motor 32, the arm 30 actuates movement of a stop means 97 provided with a protuberance 98 on each side of the rails 28 adapted to engage the shaft 22 of an armature core 20. The stop means 97 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 99 adjacent the lower ends of the rails 28. With each movement of the arm 30, the stop means 97 pivots about the pin 99 and allows one armature core 20 to roll downwardly and into the arcuate recess at the end of the arm 30. A roller 100, rotatively attached at the end of the stop means 97 engages the curved surface 101 of the arm 30.

A switch 102, positioned between the rails 28, is used to indicate to the machine control system that an armature core 20 has rolled into the arcuate recess of the arm 30 and is ready to be carried to the chuck 50.

A limit switch 103, positioned between the rails 94 is used to indicate to the control system of the machine that the supply of insulated armatures upon the rails 94 has become so great that armatures are positioned one against the other upon the rails 94 extending up to the limit switch 103. Receiving such an indication from the switch 103, the control system will stop the machine from operation until the line of insulated armatures upon the rails 94 becomes shorter. v

A dash pot mechanism 104, having a piston rod 105, is attached to the hydraulic motor 32, which assists in smoothing the operation of the hydraulic motor 32.

A preferred modification of the automatic insulating machine of this invention is shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10. Armature cores to be insulated roll downwardly upon a plate 109 and between a pair of inclined guide rails 110 toward a housing 111.

A hydraulic motor 112 attached to the housing 111 by a pair of plates 113 and a bolt 115 is provided with a piston rod 114, and reciprocally moves a link 116 to which is attached two pairs of control fingers 118 and a pair of control fingers 120. Upon each operation of the hydraulic motor, the control fingers 118 allow one armature core 20 to roll downwardly into a clamping means. An insulated armature core 20, which is held by the fingers 120, acts as an abutment and stops the downward movement of an uninsulated armature core, so that the shaft 22 of the uninsulated core is in position to be grasped by a movable clamping member 124 and retained in a clamp 126. A short section of one of the guide rails 110 is removed at the location at which an armature core 20 is clamped by the clamping finger. This permits direct longitudinal movement of an armature from the point at which it is clamped. Clamping member 124 is attached by means of an arm 129 to a piston rod 130 of a hydraulic motor 132. Clamp 126 is attached to an extension arm 131.

. The hydraulic motor 132 and the extension arm 131 are attached to a plate 134 which is movably guided by a pair of rods 136. The plate 134 is attached to a piston rod 140 by a connector 141. The piston rod 140 is operated by a hydraulic motor 142. The hydraulic motor 142 and the rods 136 are supported upon a base 143. The hydraulic motor 132 provides power for ti? clamping action upon the shaft 22 of the armature core 20. The hydraulic motor 142 actuates movement of a clamped armature core 20 longitudinally into a chuck 144 in the housing 111. The armature core 20 is partially inserted into the chuck 144 which is an integral part of the housing 111. The chuck 144 is similar to the arcuate clamping recess 50 shown in Figure 1, and is adjacent an insulating device in the housing 111. Said insulating device is similar to that disclosed in the housing 18 shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. The clamping members 124 and 126 retain a grasp upon one end of the shaft 22 of the armature core 20 while the armature core 20 is so positioned in the chuck'or clamping recess 144. The core 20 is automati cally provided with insulation in each slot 24 in a manner similar to that described with respect to the preferred embodiment, and the hydraulic motor 142 is then automatically actuated to move the armature core 20 longitudinally from the chuck 144 back to the rails 110. The hydraulic motor 132 is then automatically actuated by the controls of the machine to unclamp the shaft 22. The hydraulic motor 112 is then automatically operated, actuating movement of fingers 118 and 120 allowing each armature core 20 positioned on the rails to roll farther down the rails 110.

The term hydraulic motor as used in this description is construed to include any type of fluid operable motor. Means for automatically controlling the operation of the moving parts of this invention may consist of any suitable control system. The particular operation disclosed may be more readily adapted to an electrical control system but any other suitable type of control means such as mechanical or fluid control results in successful operation of this invention. I

This invention can be used for other purposes than insulating. It can be adapted to perform any one of many types of work upon an article retained in the chuck.

A machine of this invention can be used in a large view of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereofand mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects sets forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a transfer assembly for movement of an article of manufacture, comprising receiving means for directing a supply of articles of manufacture to the transfer assembly, a clamp member disposed in spaced relation from the receiving means, a stop member attached to the receiving means for controlling movement of articles of manufacture upon the receiving means, a transfer arm movable to a position adjacent the receiving means, the transfer arm also being movable to a position adjacent the clamp member, the transfer arm being engageable with the stop member for operation thereof, guide means for directing an article of manufacture away from the transfer assembly, a catch finger movably disposed adjacent the guide means, the catch finger being in the path of movement of an article of manufacture carried by the transfer arm, the catch finger being movable to permit an article of manufacture to be moved by the transfer arm to the clamp member, the catch finger directing an article of manufacture to the guide means during movement of the article of manufacture from the clamp member.

2. A transfer assembly for articles of manufacture, comprising support structure, a receiving member for receiving articles of manufacture, a pivotally movable stop member attached to the support structure adjacent the receiving member for controlling movement of articles of manufacture carried by the receiving member, a transfer arm pivotally attached to the support structure, a guide member for dispensing an article of manufacture, the guide member being disposed adjacent the transfer arm, a clamp member attached to the support structure in spaced relation from said guide member and in spaced relation from the receiving member, a pivotally mounted catch finger carried by the support structure adjacent the guide member and intermediate the receiving member and the guide member, the transfer arm being movable to a position adjacent the clamp member to retain an article of manufacture in engagement with the clamp member, the catch finger being provided with a stop limiting pivotal movement thereof, the catch finger also having a spring attached thereto urging positioning of the catch finger against the stop, the catch finger permitting movement of an article of manufacture past the guide member in a direction toward the clamp member, the catch finger preventing movement of an article of manufacture past the guide member in a direction from the clamp member.

3. An apparatus for operation upon an article of manufacture comprising support structure, a stationary clamping member carried by the support structure, a transfer arm pivotally attached to the support structure, a receiver member carried by the support structure in spaced relationfrom the stationary clamping member, the receiver member being adapted to support an article of manufacture, the transfer arm being provided with a recess for retaining an article of manufacture, the transfer arm being pivotally movable to engage an article of manufacture supported by the receiver member, the transfer arm also being pivotally movable to juxtaposition with the clamping member, the article of manufacture being partially disposed within the recess of the transfer arm and moved by the transfer arm to the clamping member, the recess of the transfer arm and the clamping member having complementary portions cooperating in retaining an article of manufacture during operation thereupon.

4. In a transfer assembly for movement of an article of manufacture, comprising receiving means for directing a supply of articles of manufacture to the transfer assembly, a clamp member disposed in spaced relation from the receiving means, a stop member attached to the receiving means for controlling movement of articles of manufacture upon the receiving means, a transfer arm movable to a position adjacent the receiving means, the transfer arm also being movable to a position adjacent the clamp member, guide means for directing an article of manufacture away from the transfer assembly, catch means operably disposed adjacent the guide means, the catch means being in the path of movement of an article of manufacture carried by the transfer arm, the catch means being operable by the transfer arm to permit an article of manufacture to be moved by the transfer arm to the clamp member, the catch means directing an article of manufacture to the guide means during movement of the article of manufacture from the clamp member.

5. A transfer assembly forarticles of manufacture, comprising support structure, a receiving member for receiving articles of manufacture, a stop member attached to the support structure adjacent the receiving member for controlling movement of articles of manufacture carried by the receiving member, a transfer arm pivotally attached to the support structure, guide means for dispensing an article of manufacture, the guide means being disposed adjacent the transfer arm, a clamp member attached to the support structure in spaced relation from said guide means and in spaced relation from the receiving member, catch means movably carried by the support structure adjacent the guide means and intermediate the receiving member and the guide means, the transfer arm being movable to a position adjacent the clamp member to retain an article of manufacture in engagement with the clamp member, the catch member being movable to permit movement of an article of manufacture past the guide means in a direction toward the clamp member, the catch means preventing movement of an article of manufacture past the guide means in a direction from the clamp member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,721,037 Poole July 16, 1929 1,933,225 Smith Oct. 31, 1933 1,948,006 Phelps Feb. 20, 1934 1,980,170 Eaton Nov. 13, 1934 1,993,754 Smith et al Mar. 12, 1935 2,194,125 Rinehart Mar. 19, 1940 2,340,291 Wirtz Feb. 1, 1944 2,370,828 Widmont Mar. 6, 1945 2,607,394 Diezel Aug. 19, 1952 2,613,823 Iohns Oct. 14, 1952 

